lowman



B. J. LOWMAN. FIRE AND BURGLAR ALARM.

No. 570,258. Patented Oct. 27, 1896.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

. WITNESSES:

A TTOHNE )S m: Nnnms PEYERS co, PHOTULITHQ, wAsHma'ron. o. c.

2 sneem-sneet 2.

(No Model.)

B. J. LOWMAN. FIRE AND BURGLAB. ALARM.

No. 570,258. Patented 0013.27, 1896.

INVENTOH WITNESSES: yzagm 5M.

- ATTOHMSYS.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EENJAMIN J. LOVMAN, OF BRIDGEPORT, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR TO l'llllilSELF AND ED\VARD L. (l. VARD, OF SAME PLACEI FIRE AND BURGLAR ALARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 570,258, dated October 27, 1896.

Application filed December 27,189. Serial No- 533,089. (No model) To all whom, it may concern: of my invention to a push-button substan- Be it known that I, BENJAMIN J. Lon MAN, tially like the ordinary one and with the cirof Bridgeport, in the county of Jackson and cuit open. Fig. 7 is a similar view to Fig. 6, State of Alabama, have invented a new and but showing the circuit closed by the break- 55 5 Improved Fire and Burglar Alarm, of which ing of the fusible wire; and Fig. 8 is a seethe following is a full, clear, and exact detional front elevation or plan of the pushscription. button.

My invention relates to improvements in The apparatus is used in connection with fire and burglar alarms; and the object of a push-button 10, which may be of any usual 60 I my invention is to produce a very simple apconstruction and will not therefore be deparatus which may be applied to any ordiscribed in detail, this button being held in a nary push-button connected with the usual block although it may be fastened in any annunciators, and which is arranged so that convenient way, and it has the customary it does not interfere with the regular working button 11, which on being pressed closes a 65 I 5 of the push-button, but has automatic means circuit through the wires a and a, which cirfor pushing the button and soundingthealarm cuit includes an alarm 12 and battery A. in case its tension-wire is slackened eithorby The circuit may also be made to include one a fire or the breaking of a building. or any number of automatic push-buttons.

A further object of my invention is to pro- Opposite the button 11 is a depressible 7o duce a simple means of connecting the wire striking-pin 13, which has at its inner end a to the push-button attachment so as to hold head 1+1.- to engage the button 11, and the outer the attachment normally out of contact with end of the pin 13 is provided with a second the push-button, but to arrange this wire so or supplemental button 15, which may be that if it is severed by fire or is slackened in pressed when the push-button is to serve its 75 any way the push-button will be automatnormal purpose, and which on being pressed ically struck and the annunciator sounded. causes the pin 13 to press inward on the but- To these ends my invention consists of certen 11. The pin 13 is also provided with a tain features of construction and. combinacollar 16, which is adapted to be struck and tions of parts, which will be hereinafter demoved inward by a spring 17 having suffi- 8o scribed and claimed. cient tension to cause the button 11 to be Reference is to be had to the accompanying pressed hard enough to close the circuit drawings, formingapart of this specification, through the wires to and (1/ when the said in which similar figures and letters of referspring 17 is released. This spring may be once indicate corresponding parts in all the fastened in any convenient manner, but it is 8 5 5 views. preferably secured to a longitudinally-slotted Figure 1 is a sectional view showing the plate 18, which is fastened to the block 9 so application of my improved apparatus to the as to serve in ameasure as an escutcheon-plate rooms of a building and to a push-button, the and encircle the outer part of the push-butview also showing the circuit which is to be ten 10 and the striking-pin 13. o closed by the push-button. Fig. 2 is an en- The spring 17 is held at its free end out of larged detail longitudinal section on the line contact with the collar 16 by a wire 21, which 2 2 of Fig. 3 of my improved apparatus, showextends outward over a guide-pulley 20, jouring the striking-pin out of contact with the naled in the lugs 19 on the plate 18, or over push-button. Fig. 3 is a section on the line any other suitable guide, and the wire ex 5 5 8 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section similar to tends out through a hole 22 in one end of the Fig. 2, but with the striking-pin and supplecasing 25, which covers the greater part of mental push-button pushed inward to sound the apparatus, the wire passing thence to suitan alarm. Fig. 5 is a sectional plan showable guides 23, arranged in desired places ing the application of my apparatus to a door around the walls of a room or rooms, and the I00 to serve as a burglar-alarm. Fig. 6 is a dewire has at necessary intervals fusible parts tail sectional view showing the application 245, which melt In case the temperature gets dangerously high, and therefore the melting of one of these parts releases the tension of the wire and permits the spring 17 to swing inward and press upon the collar 15, thus forcing the striking-pin 13 against the button 11 and closing the electric circuit and sounding an alarm. freely through the spring 17, and it will be seen that by pressing on the button 15 the button 11 will be pressed in the usual way.

The casing 25,which ineloses theapparatus, is adapted to be fastened to the block or other support to which the apparatus is attached, and the casing has an opening 26 opposite the button 15, so that the thumb may be easily pressed upon the button when the push-button is to be operated.

In Fig. 5 l have shown one means of utilizing the apparatus for a burglar-alarm, and as here illustrated a wire 27 connects with the button and extends over a toggle-lever 28, which is pivoted to a second lever 29, this being pivoted in a support 30, and the outer end of the wire 27is made fast to the wall of a room or to a similar support and the ten sion of the wire causes the toggle-levers to be held normally straight with their stops 31 abutting and preventing the lovers from doubling up. A wire 32, which extends through suitable guides 33, is connected with the lever 38 near the joint and is also attached to the door 34, and when the door is opened the wire 32 is pulled, thus doubling up the levers 2Q and 99, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5, and relieving the tension of the wire 27, which permits the spring 17 to act as already described and close the push-button and annunciator-circuit. The circuit may also be arranged to ring any automatic bell. I have shown this particular arrangement for utilizing the device as a burglar-alarm simply to illustrate the practicability of so using it, but it will be understood that very many different devices may be used to release the spring 17 without in the least alt'eeting the principle of the invention.

In Figs. 0 to S I have shown my improved appliance in connection with a push-button which is substantially like the usual pushbutton, but which is changed a little to meet the requirements of the alarm. The push but-ton is provided with a spring 36, connecting with the wire a of the circuit and terminating at one end in a contact-piece 37, and the push-button has also a spring-metal contactpiece 38, and the upper or outer end of this contact-piece is bent, as shown at 39, so as to contact with the contact-piece 37.

The bent end 39 of the contact-piece 38 is held out of contact with the contact-piece 37 by the fusible wire 21, which is passed in from the back of the push-button, as shown in Fig. 6, and thus the push-button may be used in the ordinary way by pushing in the The striking-pin 13 moves but-ton ll, which is attached to the contactpiece 37, the arm 36 of which is also of spring metal. \Vhen the button is pressed, the contact-piece 37 engages or touches the bent end 39 of the contact-piece 38, thus closing the circuit. lYhen the wire 21 is broken by heat or in any other way, it releases its tension on the end 39 of the contact-piece 38 and the said bent end springs outward into contact with the contact-piece 37, thus closing the circuit and sounding an alarm.

It will be seen where ground-circuit is used the reverse action of spring may be made upon the same principles of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination of a push-button, a supplemental or second push-button adapted to engage with the first-named button, said sup plemental button being adapted to be moved independently of the other button, and a spring arranged to hold the two buttons out of engagement with one another and adapted to permit the operation of the supplemental button, substantially as set forth.

The combination of a p ush-bu tton, a supplemental or second push-button adapted to engage the first-named button, said supplemental button being adapted to be moved in dependently of the other button, and a spring arranged to hold the two buttons out of engagement with one another and adapted to permit the operation of the supplemental button, substantially as set forth.

The combination, with the push-button, of a second button adapted to engage the pushbutton, a spring encircling the shank or pin of the second button and adapted to press it against the push-button, and a fusible wire extending from the free end of the spring to suitable supports, substantially as described.

l. The combination, with the push-button, of a striking-pin forming a second button to engage the push-button, the pin having a collar thereon a spring having its free end adapted to engage the collar, and a fusible wire connected with the l'ree end of the spring and extending outward over a suitable guide, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the push-button, of a second button having an inwardly-extending pin or shank to engage the push-button, a spring fastened at one end to a support and having its free end encircling the pin, a fusible wire connected with the spring to hold it out of engagement with a collar on the pin, and a casing covering the apparatus and p revided with a hole for the second button, substantially as described.

BENJAMIN J. LO'WMAN.

Witnesses:

J. W. GLASSCOCK, R. E. HENON. 

